John Maynard Keynes said, "The theory of economics does not furnish a body of settled conclusions immediately applicable to policy. It is a method rather than a doctrine, an apparatus of the mind, a technique which helps its possessor to draw correct conclusions." Alfred Marshall defined economics as ". . . a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life."

An economics degree is a general degree designed to teach problem solving techniques in addition to basic economic principles. This is unlike accounting or engineering degrees which are designed to achieve proficiency in a specific set of skills. As a result, you will take a smorgasbord of courses such as statistics, mathematics, computer science, and finance among others. Your career goals will dictate the exact composition of these courses.